Test of the rocket plume effect with the Soyuz launch vehicle, which is the first shot in the "Soyuz Flight" sequence (SF) in "Lunatics!" episode 1 (it's in "block 3" because of editing changes -- block 1 groups all the cabin interior shots).

This is the one-piece Soyuz model, originally created for the Launchpad Mech set, but isolated here in this one shot. After this, the rigged staging model will be used.

Because this shot is so simple, it renders pretty fast, and made a good test for the final look of the rocket plume in use.

Soyuz model by Chris Kuhn.

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 / "Lunatics!" Project | lunatics.tv

Short promotional video showing what you get on the upcoming "Open Movie Edition" DVDs, which is the main / first release of the episodes.

Music is "To Receive the Answer" by Distemper, CC By 3.0.

Character model turnaround for Dr. Sarah Allison, from "Lunatics!"

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Character model turnaround for Dr. Sarah Allison, from "Lunatics!"

Lunar geologist, EVA specialist.

Turnaround animation for the Anya Titova character model.

Turnaround for International Space Foundation founder and colonist Rob Lerner.

Written: Rosalyn Hunter

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Testing out a style for a promo video with a character turn-around video.

Concept: Rosalyn Hunter

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Testing out a style for a promo video with a character turn-around video.

Concept: Rosalyn Hunter

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Re-rigged the Soyuz Launch Vehicle using armature and drivers. Adds more accurate movement for pod-staging, including the pods tumbling away from the vehicle.

Completed rocket-plume effect, from three different angles, with the sound effect.

[NOTE (2022): Getting a decent non-photorealistic, but compelling, rocket plume special animation effect to match our 3D-anime-ish style was a challenge I spent a long time on, but I'm pretty happy with this version, finally!]